What Do Auto Accidents, PTSD, and TBI Have in Common?

March 6, 2017

Contrary to popular belief, the hippocampus is not a place where hippopotami go for higher learning. It is actually a seahorse-shaped structure deep within our brains that has to do with memory and emotions and is implicated in PTSD, TBI, fibromyalgia, depressionand many other psychological conditions. Trauma has been shown to atrophy the hippocampi and various therapies have been shown to rehabilitate it.

A curious legal decision from the Michigan Appeals Court, Overweg v. Thomas, contained a psychologically erroneous ruling that PTSD did not reach Michigan’s threshold regarding serious impairment of a body function. Overweg involved a 2008 tragic auto accident in which a woman viewed her husband’s death.

The Psychological Effect of Trauma on Physicians (Podcast)

Auto accidents are the 9th most common cause of death worldwide, and are poised to move into the top 5 by 2030. Dr. James Zender, a PhD clinical and forensic psychologist with over 30 years trauma experience, the last 15 of which he specialized in auto accident trauma treatment and care, joined our podcast to discuss the epidemic of auto accidents and the psychological effect of trauma on healthcare professionals.

The content on this site is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for psychological, medical, legal or other professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding specific health concerns.
For issues concerning mental health, you are invited to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zender.